What to expect from a tooth extraction

Dental decay, dental injuries, and serious gum disease can all destroy the health of a tooth creating the necessity for an e4mergency tooth extraction. In some instances, damaged teeth or teeth with cavities can be saved with a filing or a crown. However, when the tooth damage is more progressed and little actual tooth structure remains, removing the tooth becomes the sole viable option. This includes fractured teeth where the fracture extends down into the root. 

At South KC Emergency Dental, Kansas City’s only locally owned emergency dental office with weekend hours, we provide economical emergency tooth extractions at convenient after-hours appointments.  Our goal is to get you out of pain ASAP! Dr. Davis will examine your mouth and give you all available options to relieve your pain and get you back to your life.

  Nearly half of the patients we see start by telling us how much they hate dentists. It’s ok, we are used to it.  The point is, very few people enjoy going to the dentist.  Even the thought of having a tooth extracted raises the blood pressure of most people.  The truth is after a tooth extraction most patients say it wasn’t nearly as bad as they thought it was going to be.  

If your tooth can be saved, then we will give you every option available. Yet non-restorable teeth need to be extracted.  Leaving an infected tooth in your mouth not only creates the risk of the infection spreading, but it also takes a toll on your immune system and overall health constantly fighting that infection.

Dr. Davis will evaluate your problem carefully to verify that removing the tooth is the only viable option. If it is, we will profoundly numb that tooth so you feel no pain during the emergency extraction procedure.  For a normal tooth extraction (one that doesn’t require surgical means), we’ll gently loosen your tooth first, then remove the remaining tooth.  For surgical tooth extractions (used when your tooth is impacted or fractured at the gum line), Dr. Davis may make a small incision in your gum to gain access to the tooth, remove any bone structure that is required, and then remove the remainder of the tooth. With some teeth with multiple roots, we will separate the tooth and remove it in pieces.  With these surgical extractions, a suture may be required to stitch the gums back together and speed the healing process.

Once the tooth has been removed, we will place sterile gauze over the socket to slow any bleeding. Once we have observed your blood starting to clot, the patient can usually go home.  A normal single tooth extraction procedure will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Multiple extractions or surgical extractions of more damaged teeth will take longer.  Most extractions are not very painful, if you are fully numb, but you may feel quite a bit of pressure when your tooth is being removed.

When the tooth is removed, the extraction socket (hole), fills full of blood.  It’s important for this blood clot to form properly both to stop post-operative bleeding and for proper healing. If the blood clot is dislodged from the socket, a dry socket will occur. A dry socket is characterized by extreme pain that is not relieved by pain medications.  If you get a dry socket, you will need to return to the emergency dentist (perhaps more than once) to have medication placed in the socket. As the healing process continues, the blood clot will turn into granulation tissue which will eventually turn into bone and gum tissue and fill in the hole. To prevent a dry socket from occurring it’s important to avoid smoking and do not drink out of a straw for 4-5 days.

For most people, a tooth extraction at a Kansas City Emergency Dentist is a fairly quick and slightly uncomfortable procedure.  Typically most people will experience moderate pain after the procedure that can be relieved with over-the-counter pain medication. In fact, the most effective pain relief is provided by alternating Ibuprofen (Motrin) 600-800mg with acetaminophen (Extra Strength Tylenol) 500mg. This medication combination also provides a strong anti-inflammatory effect which helps the extraction socket heal faster and reduces post-operative pain.

Dr. Davis at South Kansas City Emergency Dental has over 15 years of experience and has removed thousands of teeth. If you are in pain and need an affordable emergency dentist, please call our office at 816-601-1817 to be seen ASAP.